Do you know there is a “secret” room on the plane?
On wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing’s Dreamliner, there is a small room that is disguised as a small cabinet when viewed from outside.
The door will open a steep staircase leading to a rather small cabin, where lay bunk beds for crew members to sleep.
“The hiding areas for this crew are less than 5 feet tall and can hold up to four people, which is located in the front of the plane, but most passengers will not notice it.” , Goode explained.
Normally, these are low height seats and lack windows so they can not be used to sit passengers. However, the process of converting these spaces into cabin compartments is more complex than turning into passenger seats.
All of these positions must be confirmed by the aeronautical authority. Once certified for an airplane, if this seat design is applied on another plane, it must be confirmed again.
“This is a process that can cost millions of dollars, which is why airlines try to avoid redesigning or changing seats too often,” Goode said.
On average, passenger seats are only changed after 7 to 10 years of use.
All seats must pass the 16G test, a process that involves slipping down the slope at high speed to simulate a plane crash.
This slope is adjusted in different angles corresponding to different collision situations to see which parts of the seat need to be modified to ensure maximum safety. All fabrics are tested for fire resistance to see if they are flammable.
Although smoking is banned on airplanes, the fact remains that the ashtray remains on the list of “minimum equipment” available on board aircraft in the United States.
